Bunions appear as a large bump on the side of your foot at the base of your big toe. There are situations where this deformity doesn’t affect the person much and may just have a little irritation from rubbing against the side of the shoe. If conservative treatments don’t seem to help and your bunion is causing you severe pain, you may need to undergo bunion surgery. Dr. James Kent at East Texas Foot & Ankle Centers in Tyler, TX, can explain when bunion surgery is necessary and what you can expect.
When is Bunion Surgery Needed?
When you’re dealing with a bunion, oftentimes, it may not really affect you or your ability to move about comfortably throughout your day. In certain cases, you may find that you have irritation on the bunion due to rubbing against the shoe or it may cause pain throughout your foot if you spend a lot of time on your feet. Before recommending bunion surgery, your podiatrist in Tyler, TX, will provide you with conservative treatments. This could include icing your foot and doing stretching and strengthening exercises.
If you find that these methods aren’t helping you manage your pain, it may be time to consider bunion surgery. Your podiatrist will go in and shave the excess bone off and adjust your arch structure as needed. Recovery will take a few weeks before you can start fully putting weight on your foot and participate in any activities. It’s important that you continue to wear properly fitted shoes and follow any other instructions your doctor may give you in regard to your recovery process.
Contact Your Podiatrist Today
Find out if you need surgery to remove your bunions! Contact Dr. James Kent at East Texas Foot & Ankle Centers in Tyler, TX, to learn about bunion surgery and when it may be needed. Call to learn more today at (903) 939-3668.